The novel use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta for uncontrolled bleeding in a surgically inaccessible abdomen: The ruptured proper hepatic artery in a frozen abdomen.

Hemorrhage is among the leading causes of death for trauma patients. Adjunct techniques used to control bleeding include use of aortic cross clamping, application of a pelvic binder, rapidly expanding hemostatic sponges, and extra-peritoneal packing. Additionally, Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA) can provide life-saving proximal control for patients with massive internal hemorrhage. This study concerns a patient treated with Zone 1 REBOA for class IV hemorrhagic shock from a spontaneous common hepatic artery rupture. REBOA was performed at bedside in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) prior to definitive selective embolization. A healthy 28-year-old male suffered a grade 4 liver laceration and pancreatic head transection with associated duodenal injury after a high-speed motor vehicle collision. On arrival, the patient required a damage control laparotomy with multiple reoperations for management of his intra-abdominal injuries. By hospital day 11, significant visceral adhesions resulted in a frozen abdomen. On hospital day 20, the patient developed massive hematemesis, hematochezia, and class IV hemorrhagic shock. Vascular surgery was called to bedside in the SICU to perform REBOA. The patient received massive transfusion protocol while a 12 Fr sheath was inserted, and an aortic occlusion balloon was inflated in Zone 1 allowing for hemodynamic stabilization for transport and definitive management in the angiography suite. This case reports a novel use of REBOA, at bedside in the SICU, for the management of a massive gastrointestinal bleed in a patient with frozen abdomen. In this case, REBOA allowed us to achieve temporary hemodynamic stability prior to definitive control in the angiography suite. Bedside use of REBOA in the SICU prevented certain exsanguination and death.